Jesus Seasons Salt
2 Jesus Seasons Salt
'Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men' (Matthew 5:13). 'Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear' (Luke 14: 34, 35).
I have already drawn your attention to the first part of Matthew 5:13 quoted above: 'Ye are the salt of the earth'. Now we shall consider the second part of the same verse. I want you to notice also the words in Luke 14:34, 'Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?'. The Lord is speaking of salt which has lost its savour: please keep that in mind.
Salt without savour
(a) Unsaved people. I mentioned to you how the Lord, as He saw the multitudes coming to Him, was comparing the life of a sinner to salt that has lost its savour. We saw in Matthew 4:25 how there followed him multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea and from beyond Jordan. On seeing those multitudes, He uttered the words in Matthew 5:13. He could see two kinds of people: one, a very small group, which could be called salt; the other, a large group, perhaps more than 5,000, who could be called salt that had lost its savour. The good salt was very small in quantity, answering to the handful of disciples that followed Him. The others were those who loved just to see miracles and eat loaves and fishes; and the Lord compared them with salt that had lost its savour.
We see in Luke 14:34 quoted above, that the Lord makes a very remarkable statement. The dunghill provides food for ants, worms, and other small insects. Our Lord says the salt that has lost its savour is not fit even for the dunghill; it is useless, so much so, that if you bring ants, worms and insects and put them in it, they will not stay there long; even they cannot thrive in it. The salt that has lost its savour is useless and must be thrown away somewhere. Such is the condition of the person who has not been saved.
If you cannot say truthfully, joyfully and clearly, that the Lord has forgiven you your sins, washed away your defilement, and given you a new divine nature, you are like the salt that has lost its savour. No matter who you are, you are useless. Your stay upon this earth is only a burden. Wherever you go and wherever you live, you will bring nothing but misery and sorrow.
Please say truthfully what your life is like. Is your life bringing any good to anyone? Are your neighbours and friends being profited spiritually through your life? What kind of spiritual profit have your brothers, sisters, friends, and relations, received through your words, works, testimony and prayers? You see, those who are not truly born again can never say truthfully that they are of any help or use to others. Their life is being wasted.
(b) Unbelieving Israel. All this can be aptly illustrated by the people of Palestine. They had been scattered because of their disobedience to God and were living in all countries of the world. Now we see them coming back, and being forced by many circumstances, to settle in Palestine. They have brought with them wealth and knowledge from the other countries, and in twenty-five years have changed the land now occupied by them, from a desert into a fertile country. Had you gone to Palestine twenty-five years ago you would have seen nothing but a desert. Now you find a beautiful country with very prosperous cities everywhere. They are still building new roads, schools and universities. Thus they can show from the Scriptures how, long before Christ came into the world, the prophets had said that the land which had become a desert, would again become fertile. They have carefully preserved the Scriptures. I spent a few days in Palestine with believers who are Jewish converts, and they told me how they cannot but feel sorry for their countrymen. With so many advantages, they are still in darkness and blindness. They can really be called salt that has lost its savour. They are in total spiritual blindness. They are bitterly opposed to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They will not allow anyone to preach the Gospel openly these days. They do not mind evil coming into the country; in fact they have already brought with them many evils from Europe and other countries. But they do not want the Gospel. That is why they are like the salt that has lost its savour.
(c) Seekers of loaves and fishes. The Lord said about the Pharisees and Sadducees who went after Him, that they were following Him only because they had eaten of the loaves. They were offended at these words and went away (cf. John 6:5, 26, 27 and 66)' They thought it was wonderful to be fed miraculously without labour and even without the trouble of cooking food. So the Lord tells them in verses 26, 27: 'Ye are seeking for the loaves to satisfy you. It does not matter what kind of a loaf you eat, it will never give you true satisfaction. I am the bread of life; you must eat Me. I will teach you how to eat Me. Then you can live for ever'. When they heard these words they became angry and were offended and walked no more with Him. They were people familiar with prophecy, ye totally blind spiritually. So they went away. They had come so near but failed. They could have received God's kingdom, but they went away empty. That is why our Lord compared them with salt that has lost its savour.
Be good salt—comforting, edifying.
Now please consider what your condition before God is. Can you be compared with good salt, or are you only like salt that has lost its savour? There are experienced cooks who know exactly how much salt to use. There are others who can never learn that lesson; sometimes they use too much, sometimes too little. If you know how to put in the exact amount of salt the food will be so tasty and good. Just as the salt gives taste to food, so should your life be. Wherever you go or stay, your life should be like salt. It should bring enjoyment to those all around you. Your words and your presence should bring comfort to others. I want you to know for yourself what your real condition is before God today. Please be truthful. How many enemies, friends, strangers and relations have been spiritually benefited by your life? We preachers love salt. Every time our throats get hoarse and rough we use salt. There is nothing better than that. See how thankful we all are to salt. Just a small quantity brings relief. That is how your life should be.
By nature, we are like red pepper. Rather than bringing relief and comfort, we hurt the feelings of others and bring pain. Often we are like some visitors who make us say in our heart, 'When will they go away?' Outwardly you may say, 'Please have some tea or coffee', but in your heart you wish they would go away soon. And when they do go, how relieved you feel! There are others who bring blessing to you and you feel sad when they are gone. Like a small quantity of salt they brought you joy, comfort and encouragement and refreshed you. The Lord our Salt seasons us
The Lord Jesus Himself is our Salt. It is only by His life coming into our life, that we are able to live like salt. I am concerned about one thing, and that is that you should see for yourself what your condition is before the Lord. You may have titles and degrees attached to your name. People may honour you. Yet perhaps God says to you, 'You are Mr. Salt, but you have lost your savour'. But when you are changed by Him, wherever you go, you will be called by a new name and people will receive you and welcome you like good salt.
These days we see men and women who take pride in culture, education, buildings and worldly honour, but wherever they go they bring misery, sadness, defilement and sorrow. By the words they speak and the books they read we can see how low they have fallen. They live in shameful and defiling ways. If you are like that, we pray that the Lord may change you right now. Do not wait till tomorrow. You must be changed today. Your nature, your heart and your life must become new. That is what God wants to do for you.
Some people find joy and pleasure in serving others. This is because they have become good salt. Suppose you say to salt, 'Mr. Salt, thank you very much; you have made my food very tasty', what will Mr. Salt say?
He will say, 'It is my pleasure, duty and privilege. I am not doing any favour to you. I was made for that purpose'. Whether young or old, if you have the life of the Lord Jesus Christ in you, you will look for an opportunity to help others. You will bring comfort, joy and relief to others, and then you will find your own life becomes full of joy too. Has God made you good salt or not? Can you truthfully say, I have become good salt in the hand of God?
The Lord's seasoning forges eternal bonds Now please turn again to Luke 14:25-27. When we first read these words we cannot understand why one should hate father, mother, brothers, sisters, wife and children, and even one's own life. But our Lord Himself gives the answer in Luke 8:19-21. In the beginning, Jesus' relatives did not want to encourage Him. They were saying 'He is mad and beside Himself. But when they saw the crowds coming after Him, they went to meet Him and sent a messenger saying, 'You go and tell Him that your brothers and mother have come to see you'. Now they had not really come to see Him, but they wanted to be honoured along with Him, so that the multitudes might say, "These are His mother and brothers'. First they had said 'He is beside Himself and now they say, 'You are our brother'. The Lord replied, 'Who are my mother, and brothers? Those who do the will of God, they are my mother, brothers and sisters.' When do we hate our brothers, sisters, father and mother? When we see sin in anyone, whoever that may be, we hate the sin in him. We cannot have any fellowship with sin. By nature all men are sinful, so they cannot be our true brothers and sisters. Those who belong to the Lord and do His will become our brothers and sisters for eternity. Our Lord is saying that if you want true brothers and sisters who will love you for all eternity, then you must first learn to be free from the partiality of human love. Then only will you be useful. Not only to your own sisters and brothers, but wherever you go, you will be useful to all men. I had the privilege of visiting many cities in several countries of the world. When the people whom we meet here and there write and say that they have been benefited by some few words spoken to them, we greatly rejoice to hear it. How great is the privilege given to us to help others! Oh, come! Abide in Him!
Once again we ask you, 'How much comfort, inspiration, peace and joy do others receive through you daily? Or are you like the salt that has lost its savour?' Such salt is neither fit for the land as manure, nor for the dunghill where there are pests and insects, nor to anybody else. Such a life is a wasted life. I have heard many people say, just before they die, 'My life has been wasted!' I have seen them shed tears saying, 'Now it is too late. My life is almost gone. I can see nothing but waste'. Take care that you do not lead such a life. Your life can be fruitful and profitable. Everybody who comes in touch with you can receive something from you. The Lord is powerful to change you. Come to Jesus and say to Him, 'O Lord, I have been till today like salt that has lost its savour. I am unwanted by everybody. Will you change my life today so that I can bring comfort, and be fruitful to my fellowmen, in my college, in my business or wherever I am?'
The Lord Jesus called a few men to follow Him and said to them, 'I will make you fishers of men'. He can do this for you also. Men and women can be saved through your life and prayer, provided you first become His salt
Now, how can any branch bring forth fruit without abiding in the vine? See John 15:4. Rather, it will wither away. If the branch abides in the vine, then it will yield fruit. That is how our life also can yield plenty of fruit. Through word or action, you can bring forth fruit, provided the life of the Lord Jesus Christ flows in you. If not, you can come to the Lord Jesus Christ now and have your sins forgiven. Call upon Him this very moment and He will forgive you and pour His life into you. He will teach you how to abide in Him and how to bring forth fruit.